Francisco de Berganza
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Fray
Francisco de Berganza y Arce (10 April 1663 – 29 April 1738), better known as Padre Berganza, was a Spanish
Benedictine monk and medievalist. Marcelino Menéndez Pelayo called him la lumbrera intelectual de su siglo ("the brightest intellect of his age").
He was the son of Francisco de Berganza and Jacinta de Arce, baptised in the parish church of Santibánez de Zarzaguda, though his family was from Gumiel de Izán
. On 5 February 1682 he took the Benedictine habit at the monastery of San Pedro de Cardeña, making his profession a short while later, on 21 March. He was shortly thereafter sent to study at San Vicente de Salamanca, where he spent twelve years before returning to Cardeña. There he became chief preacher and finally abbot
, from 1721 to 1725. He died suddenly during suppertime at the convent of San Martín de Madrid.
As a historian he was innovative and modern, rejecting traditional methods of historical inquiry, he turned to the direct study of the documents. His Antigüedades de España brought to light many documents, including many from the archives of Cardeña, that had not until then been publicised. It was published in two volumes, the second at Madrid from 1719–21. He uncovered many forgeries that exposed traditional narrative of the origins of Castile
and the unity of Spain. Posthumously at Madrid in 1729 was published his Ferreras convencido, a revision of the history of Ferreras.
Fray
Fray is an eight-issue comic book limited series, a futuristic spin-off of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Written by Buffy creator Joss Whedon, the series follows a Slayer named Melaka Fray, a chosen one in a time where vampires are returning to the slums of New York City, and the...
Francisco de Berganza y Arce (10 April 1663 – 29 April 1738), better known as Padre Berganza, was a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
Benedictine monk and medievalist. Marcelino Menéndez Pelayo called him la lumbrera intelectual de su siglo ("the brightest intellect of his age").
He was the son of Francisco de Berganza and Jacinta de Arce, baptised in the parish church of Santibánez de Zarzaguda, though his family was from Gumiel de Izán
Gumiel de Izán
Gumiel de Izán is a municipality located in the province of Burgos, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality had a population of 665 inhabitants....
. On 5 February 1682 he took the Benedictine habit at the monastery of San Pedro de Cardeña, making his profession a short while later, on 21 March. He was shortly thereafter sent to study at San Vicente de Salamanca, where he spent twelve years before returning to Cardeña. There he became chief preacher and finally abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
, from 1721 to 1725. He died suddenly during suppertime at the convent of San Martín de Madrid.
As a historian he was innovative and modern, rejecting traditional methods of historical inquiry, he turned to the direct study of the documents. His Antigüedades de España brought to light many documents, including many from the archives of Cardeña, that had not until then been publicised. It was published in two volumes, the second at Madrid from 1719–21. He uncovered many forgeries that exposed traditional narrative of the origins of Castile
Crown of Castile
The Crown of Castile was a medieval and modern state in the Iberian Peninsula that formed in 1230 as a result of the third and definitive union of the crowns and parliaments of the kingdoms of Castile and León upon the accession of the then King Ferdinand III of Castile to the vacant Leonese throne...
and the unity of Spain. Posthumously at Madrid in 1729 was published his Ferreras convencido, a revision of the history of Ferreras.